Machine for setting up box blanks



March 2, 1948. H. w. GREGolRE MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLNKS- Original Filed June 5, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l egozie. by M www/Wag@ 2; H. GREGOIRE v 2,437,157

,MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BQX BLANKS original Filed June 5, 1942 Ll'slleesl-shwt 2 March 2,' 194s.

Original Filed June 5, 1942 H. w. GREGOIRE 2,437,157

MACHINE FOR SETTING U P BOX BLANKS 4 sheets-sheet 5' March 2, 1948*. 4H. w. GREGOIRE MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 5 ,v 1942 Patented Mar. 2, 1948 MACHINE Foa SETTING UP Box LANKs Horace W. Gregoire, Boston, Mass., assignor to Oskar W. Wikstrom, Newton, Mass.

Original application June 5, 1942, .Serial No.

Divided and this application November 2, 1944, Serial No. 561,577

Claims.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of containers and boxes of paper and like foldable sheet material, and more particularly aims to provide improved means for advancing, flexing and folding box blank elements preparatory to and in the complete setting up thereof. One well-known class of machines such as here 2 tration of a machine of the general class as here concerned.

concerned is that known as the Brightwood type.

Examples of machines of the general class as here concerned appear in U. S. Patent No. 1,281,982 and in my prior patent No. 2,120,214.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 445,887, filed June 5, 1942, now Patent No, 2,371,046, dated March 6, 1945.

In the drawings illustrating by way of kexample one embodiment of the invention: k

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view at the blank-receiving and breaker portion of the machine, showing novel mechanism for initially flexing or breaking certain elements of the box blanks;

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view oi the forming throat of the machine, including the tucker mechanism such as separately claimed in my parent application;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking toward the right in' said gure, the section being taken lengthwise the machine, that i-s, in the direction of travel of the blanks through it;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional details crosswise the machine illustrating two succeeding intermediate positions of the special tucker devices;

Fig, '7 is a fragmental elevation, on a similar scale as Figs. 5 and 6 of the mechanism of Figs. 5 and 6 as if looking from the right in said iigures;

Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive are partial diagrammatic cross-sectional views of the forming and tucker mechanism in various succeeding stages of operation;

Fig. 13 represents a typical blank for a box or tray such as adapted for handling by the means of the invention;

Figs. 14 and 15 show the box or tray resulting from the blank of Fig. 13, in partially formed and completed conditions respectively; and

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section through one end portion of the container of Fig, l5, upon a larger scale, as for example on the line Iii-I6.

In Fig. 1 a. portion of the main frame, at the left side of the machinelooking in the direction of travel of the blanks, is indicated at l. As in my parent application, reference may be had to my prior Patent No. 2,120,214 for further illus- The blanks, oneof which is indicated generally at B, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, lare conveyed along spaced carrier frames seen in section at 2, 2, Fig. 1, these preferably being laterally adjustable on the main frame as appropriate for the particular size of blank, The blanks B are moved along from the infeeding end of the machine, not shown, through the creasing or breaker mechanism with which Figs. land 2 are mainly concerned. At this creasing or breaker station the blanks are temporarily halted, substantially in the dotted position of the blank B in Fig. 2.

A typical blank B in its flat condition a-s fed to the machine is illustrated in Fig. 13. It comprises a main wall a, to form the bottom for the set-up box or tray or the top for a container cover. The arrow on Fig, 13 indicates the direction of travel of the blank in the machine. The blank further comprises side walls b, at two opposite edges of the main wall a, having corner flaps c at their opposite ends. At the other two opposite edges of the rwall a are intermediate or end elements herein of a triple character, each including an end wall proper d, an intermediate turn-in piece or tuck e, and a further terminal turn-in piece or overlap tuck f. The terms side land end are applied to the walls b and d respectively merely for convenience in description :and without implication as to the relative dimensions or positions of the walls in the iinished article. It will be noted for instance that what become the vertical side walls b of the box (Fig. l5) extend crosswise of the machine, in the blank-conditioning and setting-up stages, and of the path of the blanks along the machine, the end wall members d-e-f, which happen to be the shorter pair in the illustrative example, being parallel with said path and with the sides oi the machine.

The manner of folding and setting up the several parts of the blank will later be referred to in more detail, it being here briefly noted, with reference particularly to Figs. 14 to 16, that in the courseof the machine operation the blanks B are to have their side walls b erected, their side wall ilaps c turned in at right angles, see Fig, 14, end walls d erected, and the end tucks e and individually tucked or turned in, with iirst the intermediate tucks e fol-ded ilatwise l'against the then inner face of the corresponding end walls d and then the wider tucks f lapped down over tucks e and over the inturned side walls flaps c.

The result is a finished folded edge along the full extent of the end walls, including both their lower intermediate portions and` their higher corner portions seen in Fig. 15. It will be particularly noted that the resulting end walls of the box or tray are of triple thickness throughout their major areas. An intermediate thickness or layer of the paper or other fibrous material of the blank is provided by each intermediate flap e and the adjacent inturned side flaps c, these parts being inserted between and held by the inturned terminal flaps f. The side walls b and their flaps c may themselves be of plural thickness, the blank in such case initially having a laterally extended area seen iniolded in Figs. 14,-16, which lateral areas are assumed to have been folded overonto and secured against the side walls b and flaps c (beneath them in the Fig. 13 outerface-up position) by appropriate folding and gluing. Any such single or double infolding of the side walls b and of their end flaps c is here assumed to have already taken place, the blank being in the fiat condition as represented in Fig. 13 as it is conveyed to the breaker mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2 by means of the travelling belts 3, 3. In Fig. 13 the blank appears with its outside face up, inversely from the Figs. 14-15 position. as more fully explained later herein.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, the mechanism there shown serves to break, iiex or bend the corner aps c along their line of hinge connection with the side walls b, and similarly also to break the intermediate end tucks e along their line of foldable connection e (Fig, 13) with the respective end wall members d, preliminary to the gluing, folding and securing of these parts.

This breaker mechanism comprises, forl each side of the machine, two bars or plates iii, l for acting on the respective pairs of corner iiapsc and a single longer plate or breaker Il, operable to break or flex the adjacent intermediate end tucks e. l

These several flexing elements or breakers it! and Il are commonly mounted on a verticalll movable cross bar l2 carried by plungers I3, these parts providing a breaker head or assembly guided as at i3d for vertical movement on the machine frame. This breaker assembly is actuated in time-d relation to the other elements of the machine, as by cam means such as that of said Patent No. 2,120,214, the blanks B being successively halted in proper position at this breaker station, also as in said patent by way of example. The corner-flap breakers I0 are disposed on transverse arms I4 adjustable in blocks I5 in turn adjustably positioned on longitudinal bars i6 held in collars il for variable positioning along the main cross member i2 of the assembly. Similarly, the breakers Il for the intermediate end tucks e are adjustably supported by blocks i8 on said cross bar I2.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the corner-flap breakers lil are located above and substantially in vertical alignment with the outer edges of the track-supported carrier belts 3, on which the blanks B are disposed with the fold lines of their corner iiaps c also in line with said belt edges. Thus the adjacent portions of the side walls b which carry the corner flaps c are sup ported from below along the corner-ap fold lines, while the corner iiaps themselves project laterally without under support. Hence as the breakers l B descend they act to break down these corner flaps c along their fold lines, into aeposition such as shown dotted in Fig. 1. n Y

The end-tuck breakers Il, one at each side'of these intermediate tucks e downwardly, into substantially their dotted line position indicated in Fig. 1, while' the other adjacent or bordering end tucks f are restrained in the plane of the blank, so that the tucks e are positively separated from them along any common edge portions.

As evident in Figs. 13, the outer or terminal tucks f are to enclose the outer portions of the intermediate tucks e. The latterare in eii'ect formed in part from what would be portions of the tucks f if the latter were rectangular, of uniform extent straight across the blank; and in remaining part these intermediate tucks e are taken from what would'be material of the end wall members d, if these latter also were rectangular, vstraight across the blank, instead of being wider or higher at their opposite extremities, as shown. In other words, the fold lines e and f of adjoining tucks e and f (Fig. 13) are offset relatively to each other, and the outer transverse cut edge of a tuck e is spaced further out from the main wall a than is the fold line f' of its associated tuck f. This causes the two tucks to vhave an overlapping relation when both are subsequently folded down' iiatwise against the inner face of the erected end wall member d by which they are carried; see Figs. 14 to 16. It will be understood that the invention is similarly applicable to blanks having a plurality of adjacent Yend tucks for differential folding and which may be otherwise arranged than inthe particular example shown.

Thus in the preliminary liexing operation at the breaker station of Figs. y1 and 2 'only the intermediate tucks e are broken or bent down, in addition to the corner naps c. The outer tucks f, Yalso the end wall members d, are kept in their -initial Iflat position, in or substantially in 'the plane of the blank as a whole, so VA'as to insure clean separation of the intermediate tucks e fully along their cut edges.

To that end, and to `'avoid breaking the Aouter crease, that is, the line of folding connection f between the tucks f and the end wall members d,

chine, a supporting bar or plate 2li adjustably positioned on brackets 2 l, y2| projecting from the respective adjacent belt carrier frames 2. These supporting plates '2d are adjusted to stand directlybelow the termina] tucks f, 'and out of vertical line with the intermediate tucks e. Said supportingmeans 2%) vaccordingly'/ prevents the outer tucks f from being carried down with the breakers il as the latter bend the intermediate tuckse, even if the line of Vseparation between them 'has not been vcompletely cut through.

In cooperation with the described 4supporting and breaker mechanism ras a whole I -desirably provide additional guiding and aligning means whereby the blanks B are accurately'loc'ated, in the direction across the machine, for 'andduring the breaking operation. Such 'means as illusto l2 inclusive.

trated in Figs. 1 andV 2, comprises, at each side of the machine, a longitudinal abutment or guide in the form of a strip or bar 23 carried by upright arms 24 adjustably fixed on the extended outer portions of the brackets 2l already described. These guides 23 are adjusted in position, substantially as shown, to receive the blanks B between them, with the outer edges of the terminal tucks f adjacent the inner vertical faces of the guides. rIhus the blanks are centered and held against displacement transversely of the machine in the course of the described breaking operation.

From the breaker station of Figs. l and 2, the blanks resume their travel with the conveyer belts 3, passing to and past suitable gluing mechanism and if desired through glue-tempering means, as fully explained for example in my said prior Patent No. 2,120,214. The gluing means desirably is such as to apply the glue to appropriate selected areas of the blanks, such as the area-s represented by the stippling in Fig. 14, one example of such gluing means being found in U. S. Patent No. 2,230,963, to Macdonald, dated February 4, 1941. The blanks B having the glue applied to theappropriate areas are delivered in timed succession to the forming throat, at the setting-up station of the machine, such as represented in Figs. 3 and 4, together with Figs. 5 In the illustrated example the blanks are presented at this station with their inner faces uppermost, that is, inversely from the Fig. 13 position, for cooperation with downwardly-acting forming means whereby the blank side and end walls are erected upwardly, the resulting box or tray as formed being positioned upright as in Figs. 14-16, it being understood however that within the invention the blanks need not be inverted, and may have their walls erected downwardly or otherwise.

The forming throat as here shown comprises the herein rectangular enclosure or passage in which the side members of the boxes are erected and secured. The main elements defining the throat, and which in general may be of similar construction as in said Patent No'. 2,120,214, are illustrated sufficiently for present purposes in Figs. 3 and 4 and the others above mentioned.

Referring to said gures, such elements comprise opposed fold plates, abutments or wall members 33 disposed crosswise the machine, to act on the walls or sides b of thepresent blanks. As in said patent, these members are formed as individual plates at the inner ends of slides 30a adjustably disposed in collars 30h on parallel cross bars 3l, 32 supported on the main framing i of the machine. The other walls of the forming throat, extending lengthwise the machine and adapted to act on the end walls d of the boxes, are presented by presser plates 33, one at each side of the machine, having bearing sleeves 34 at their respective ends supporting them for horizontal movement transversely of the machine, toward and from each other, on the cross bars 3|, 32.

The setting up of the blanks into their completed box form of Fig. 15 is accomplished by a double plunger element which is brought down B to 12which are vertical sectional views through` machine.

Said plunger means' comprises a horizontal forming plate 35 removably attached at the foot of an inner or central vertically vmovable slidebar 36 which is in turn guided in arelatively movable outer slide 31. These elements 36 and 31 at times move together substantially as a unit and at other times move relatively to each other, as is evident in said Figs. 8 to 12. The box-like former 38 is replaceably secured to the lower end of said outer slide 31. The forming plate 35 and said former 38 together comprise a double-plunger forming element actuated and timed as by means of cam and associated mechanism such as that of the patent mentioned.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings it will be apparent that the present invention makes provision for a plural breaking action, for advance of the blanks ,and for a triple tucking action in association with the end, walls d of the blanks. Such tucking operation includes the inturning of the corner iiaps c, and the infolding or tucking ofthe two separated tucks e and f with which said double-tuck end walls d of the blanks B are provided. This triple operation further is such that both the corner flaps c and the intermediate end tucks e are set behind and are overlapped by the terminal or main end tucks f.

The triple tucking action mentioned takes place at the forming throat through the conjoint operation of the abutment plates 30, the presser plates 33 and the double-plunger device together with the tucker mechanism to be described. As previously noted, the blanks B as presented in succession at the forming throat are positioned with their inner faces up, in the case of a downwardly acting forming mechanism such as here illustrated, the blanks, if otherwise positioned at some earlier point in their travel through the machine, as for example at the breaker station, being inverted before or in the course of their presentation to the forming throat, by suitable ,means such for example as in my prior Patent forming throat, and comparison thereof with Fig.

9, it will be understood that the forming plate 35 is brought down onto the main' wall a of the blank, thrusting the latter down into the throat and simultaneously erecting the side walls b and the other side or end walls d. In the'course of this step, from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9, said folder points 30o engage and turn the corner aps c on the walls b inwardly to a position perpendicular to said walls b, so as to stand parallel to and iiatwise against the inner face of the now erected end walls d. As seen in Fig. 9 the pairs of end1 wall tucks e and f at this stage project in substantially upright position above the erected end walls d.

The presser plates 33 are provided at their inner and lower portions with interrupted flange ananas-fr interchangeable, fforlocation :on .the presser `.plates 33 at a level appropriate to the particular vsize and design of box. The presser plates'dstogether with the stops mentioned v.are laterally movable, inwardly toward each :other lfor the :application 'Loi pressure against the folded parts, and outwardly suihciently to allow the boxes to be shed downwardly past the :stops 33a and out of .the setting operation such as represented in i12. This operation of the 4presser plates maybe effected, in the proper timed relation with the plunger element, by mechanism .such as that of my ,prior patent mentioned.

Following the operating :step :of Fig. 9, the donble end tucks e and fare turned linwardly and downwardly, individually yand into the desired overlapping relation of .the end .tuck jf with respect to the corner iiaps c and the intermediate tuck e. rIwo successive stages in v.the course of the in-tucking .of the tu'clrsc and .fare represented in Figs. 10 and 11, and Vupon a larger .scale 'in Figs. 5 and 6, which :are partial views :corresponding respectively to portions of .said Figs. 1.0 and 11. The resulting triple-thickness .end walls, including the outer wall members d, the then inside flaps f providing the inner faces for the wall .and the enclosed corner flaps c and intermediate tucks e are completed by Vthe application lof .pressure to set them in adhesively secured position, as represented in Fig. 12, see also Figs. lgnd 16.

The infolding of the tucks e and .j is :effected by means of plural tucking elements or tucking ngers herein comprising a plurality or `set :of such tuckers di] for each intermediate tuck fe and a further plurality or set of tuclrers .or .tuckin'g fingers 5t, Vfor each of theterminal tucks These tucking elements are mounted on and along Athe upper portions of the presser plates 33, in oppositely facing relation at the opposite sides of the feed throat. They are 1disposed .in recesses 33h provided for the purpose at the top `edges of said presser plates 33, a series of some eight such recesses being kshown in Figs. 3 and 4, only -four of which are occupied .by :tuclring ngers 1in -the set up of the machine for the particular size and form of box herein illustrated by way of example. it will be understood that a greater or. less 'number of tuckers and diiierent Yarrangements 4.thereof .may be utilized for difterentsizes 'f iblanfks :and boxes.

The tuclrers for each side of the throat are .adjustablyiixed on a rock shaft lli, `one journaled for rotation in one andthe reverse-directions upon its vown axis in eachof the presser plates 3 and each having at one end a pinion :i2 'meshing with reciprocating racks d3., Fig. 3, adapted for operation in timed relation to the other parts Ifby driving mechanism such for example asY in my prior patent already identied.

The tucking ngers d for the tucks yc, as 'best seen .in Figs. 15 and 6, have .theiir lowes' .ends nxed on the corresponding rock shaft di, asin seats formed therein, these ngers it thus having their bases at or closely adjacent the Vshaft axis, the

fingers standing in Vsuhstantially true radial rel-ation to it. rl'he other sets of fingers til also are mounted on the saine rock 'shafts -il 'but rare adjustably xed on blocks or iingerbases 5i in turn. removably secured to and extending laterally from the shaft sides. The two `finger sets :at and at the given side of the forming 'throat are set in general parallelism axially of the shafts. But by reason of the angular or 'bell-crank Zio-rin :of the outer finger elements 5d, 'for cooperation with the terminal tucks f, they are offset vbehind the shaft axes and away from the throat, jin the iniytlal'or .upright position ofthe fingers .correspond-- ing to Figs.:3,'1;, .8 and 9. Hence as 4theshafts 4I lare .rocked inwardly, that is, turned upon their axes, the sets `rof tuckin-g fingers 40 arrive at and Icross the vertical plane of the erected end walls d in advance of the overlap tuckers 50. Accordngly the intermediate tucks e are turned in an instant ahead of the terminal tucks f; see Fig. 5. This insures the independent folding and tucking cof these lblank members in the further action of the plural finger sets. As evident in Fig. 6, vthe intermediate tucks c are carried down into flat- Wise position against the inner faces Aof the set-up .end wall members d, while attendantly the terminal or enclosing tucks are folded down into the desired overlapping relation with respect both .to said intermediate tucks e land the already Ainturned corner flaps c.

By varying the relative spacing foi the two sets of tucking fingers Ait 4and 5E! Yand by adjusting their angular relation to the axis of `the Corresponding rock shaft, and `t-o each other, their :action may 'be controlled and predeterminedly vset to -infold a plurality of individually separate tucks along La given wall, so as to place one or more of the tucks for such wall 4in a following or superposed relation to another or others. Within the capacity of this successive plural -tucking mechanism of the invention, the relative sizes and shapes of the several tucks may vary within ya considerable range, for containers of vdifferent volume, vshape .and design.

In the operation `of the machine the racks 43 `in `geared relation to the rock shafts di are subjected to rapid lengthwise reciprocatlon, just after-or Aas the erecting of the main side walls of the blank is effected, whereby the sets of lingers, one predeterminedly .following another, areswung in .across the vertical plane of the walls and down into the throat to fold the respective iiaps down toward the inner vertical faces of the corresponding walls, .in the .appropriate order and positional relation. The several fingers are immediately reversely withdrawn, clearing the throat for entrance of the lformer element 3d; see Figs. 9 to 12. The descending former 38 supplements the action of the tucking fingers, bringing the inturned iiaps tightly against the inner face of the corresponding upright wall of the box and against each other where the ilaps are overlapped. While the former '38 is in its position within the erected box, Fig. 12, the movable Vpresser .plates 33 are forced in toward each other, thereby insuring adhesive securement of the appropriate contacting glued areas 'of the`blank parts.

My parent application contains claims for 'the tucking mechanism, V4the assembly or attachment comprising Athe same, and for the associated blank-presenting and forming means. This divisional application is more particularly concerned with the novel breaker mechanism and assembly adapted for coordination with advancing, tucking and form-ing vmeans as described in this `and in my parent case, and also makes claim to the novel combination Vof the correlated mechanisms concerned.

My invention is Vnot limited to the particular embodiment 4as herein illustrated and described, -ts scope being pointed out vin my claims as follows:

-1. En a paper-box machine for setting up blanks having at one lor more walls a plurality of aps `with aligned or parallel -fold lines and of which vilaps one at least partly encloses another,

means to convey the blanks in a given path along the machine, a blank breaking or flexing station disposed in said path, said conveying means presenting the blanks successively in temporarily halted position at said station, and a vertically reciprocable breaker assembly at said breaking station, said assembly including breaker means adapted to flex one of the plurality of enclosingly related ilaps supporting means at one side of the breaker means to hold in the plane of the blank the flap neXt inwardly adjacent the flap to be flexed, and means at the other side of the breaker means for simultaneously there retaining in the plane of the blank a flap of the enclosingly related plurality thereof so as to separate said last mentioned aps along their nonlfolding edge portions.

2. In a paper-box machine for setting up blanks having at one or more Walls a plurality of flaps with aligned or parallel fold lines and of which flaps one at least partly bounds another, means to convey the blanks in a given path along the machine, a flap breaking station disposed in said path, said conveying means presenting the blanks successively in temporarily halted position at saidrstation, and a vertically reciprocable breaker assembly at said breaking station, including a breaker device adapted to ilex one of the plurality of enclosingly related flaps, supporting means at the breaker station at opposite sides of the breaker device and adapted to underlie and retain in the plane of the blank ap portions initially adjoining the flap to be eXed by said breaker device, whereby to separate the flexed flap from said adjoining flap portions, and lateral positioning means engageable with an outer edge portion of the blank at the breaking station.

3. In a setting-up machine for box blanks, in combination, a frame, blank conveying means on the frame, a breaking station in the path of the blanks, positioning means for the blanks at said station including upright guides at the respective sides of the blank path to retain them against displacement crosswise of the machine, a vertically reciprocating breaker device to engage one or more foldable portions of a positioned blank to break them along their fold lines, and supporting means disposed laterally outwardly beyond the breaker device and adapted to abut a portion of the blank outside the portion or portions to be broken and at the blank face opposite that engaged by the breaker device.

4. In a paper-box machine for setting up blanks having at one or more walls a plurality of iaps with aligned or parallel fold lines and of which flaps one at least partly bounds another, and which blanks are to be advanced along a path to a forming throat at which different flaps of such plurality of mutually bounding flaps are to be successively inturned, the improvement which comprises a blank breaking or flexing station at an initial portion of the path of advance, positioning means for the blanks at said station including upright guides at the respective sides of the blank path to retain them against displacement crosswise of the machine, a vertically reciprocating breaker device to engage one or more foldable portions of a positioned blank to break them along their fold lines, and under lying supporting means disposed laterally beyond the breaker device and adapted to abut a portion of the blank outside the portion or portions to be broken and at the blank face opposite that engaged by the breaker device.

5. In a box-making machine, in combination, spaced side frames, conveyer means thereon to advance and position blanks having at opposite sides, laterally of the machine, a plurality of ap portions defined by lines lengthwise the machine, a cross member on the side frames, means to reciprocate said cross member vertically,` breaker means carried by said cross member for engaging and flexing vertically lateral flap portions of the lanks, upright guide members at each side of the machine adapted to receive and position the blanks between them for said ap flexing operation and to avoid displacement of the blanks transversely of the machine, and supporting means at the breaker station between the breaker means and the guide member at each side of the machine, said supporting means adapted to receive the opposite face of another of the plurality of aps of the same blank wall to insure relative separation of the aps and to retain the supported flap in the plane of the blank during breaking of the ap to be vertically flexed.

HORACE W. GREGOIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,120,214 Gregoire June 7, 1938 1,456,248 Moyer May 22, 1923 1,456,249 Moyer May 22, 1923 1,803,698 Goss May 5, 1931 2,351,670 Desch et al June 20, 1944 

